Hedgepeth enjoys basketball success overseas

Former Crossville star, Times' Player of Year plays pro basketball in Spain

Mick Hedgepeth is averaging a team-leading 11 points per game. (Special to The Times)

By Kerry YencerTimes Correspondent

Published: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, January 4, 2013 at 11:23 p.m.

The game has changed again for former Gadsden Times player of the year Mick Hedgepeth.

Four years ago, Hedgepeth was coming off a stellar career at Crossville High School as a freshman at Belmont University in Nashville. He played in a reserve role as a center for the Bruins his first year, but was a starter each of the last three years. Twice, Hedgepeth played a key role in Belmont advancing to the NCAA Tournament as conference tournament champions.

Now, Hedgepeth has taken his game to the next level — playing professional basketball in Spain.

Hedgepeth was able to make a trip home for the Christmas holidays, taking a two-week break from the hardwood. He returned Monday and will resume his court duties with daily practices before getting back into competition today to start the second half of the season.

Included in his visit home was a trip down memory lane. He spent one night with members of Crossville High School's current basketball teams after arriving home just in time to attend Christmas Eve church services.

Hedgepeth said playing professional basketball has been a life-long goal. “I wake up and do something I love for a living,” he said. “It's an adventure. It's a great life, a great experience. It is a challenge being away from home.” He added he will evaluate his season to determine if he wants to continue playing professionally. If he can move up to a higher tier, he expects to spend more time in Europe.

Although he is aware it is a long shot, he still hasn't given up on improving his game and his statistics enough to get a shot at the National Basketball Association.

The transition not only to the professional ranks but to international rules hasn't been a problem for Hedgepeth. He averages 25 minutes of playing time a game for Aurteneche Maquinaria, which has split its 10 games and is tied for fifth in the 11-team division. Eight teams will advance to the playoffs at the end of the season, which is March 23.

He's the team's leading scorer at 11 points a game and also heads up the board effort with 7.2 grabs per game, including 2.5 offensive rebounds per outing. His accuracy from the field never has been challenged, and it isn't in the international arena. He's hit 42 of his 75 field goal attempts for 56 percent; the attempts represent a team high. He's made good on 23 of 34 free throws for 67.6 percent, both free-throw figures are team highs.

A big difference for Hedgepeth in the professional game has been the defensive rotation and help defense. “It's completely different,” he said. “They force the baseline defense.”

He's still learning the language when it comes to calling out terms, having to make a quick adjustment on learning Spanish as well as the culture.

Offense isn't much different. “They call out a different play every time,” Hedgepeth said. “There are a lot of picks and rolls. I've done a good job of reading the screen rolls.”

The team is located in north central Spain in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city of about 235,000.

The 6-foot-9, 225-pound power forward-center scored 20 points and added nine rebounds in a successful debut Oct. 13, which Aurteneche won. He has had double-digit point totals in six games and twice has had a double-double with rebound highs of 13 and 12. He spends about 60 percent of his playing time as a post player, forcing him to adjust to the taller centers.

Hedgepeth lifts four days a week in addition to attending team practices four and five days a week. He is working on improving his Spanish (he had one year of the language in high school) and also works on his cooking skills.

The game is competitive within the framework of each team. The better a player's statistics, the bigger contract the next year, Hedgepeth explained, so each player must be aware of his own contributions as well as serving as a part of the team.

While Hedgepeth is the only player from the U.S. on the team, he does have an English-speaking teammate from the Bahamas.

Thus far, Hedgepeth has not played against any players with which he crossed paths on the college courts. He did play during an exhibition game against a Belmont teammate from his freshman year.

<p>The game has changed again for former Gadsden Times player of the year Mick Hedgepeth.</p><p>Four years ago, Hedgepeth was coming off a stellar career at Crossville High School as a freshman at Belmont University in Nashville. He played in a reserve role as a center for the Bruins his first year, but was a starter each of the last three years. Twice, Hedgepeth played a key role in Belmont advancing to the NCAA Tournament as conference tournament champions.</p><p>Now, Hedgepeth has taken his game to the next level — playing professional basketball in Spain.</p><p>Hedgepeth was able to make a trip home for the Christmas holidays, taking a two-week break from the hardwood. He returned Monday and will resume his court duties with daily practices before getting back into competition today to start the second half of the season.</p><p>Included in his visit home was a trip down memory lane. He spent one night with members of Crossville High School's current basketball teams after arriving home just in time to attend Christmas Eve church services. </p><p>Hedgepeth said playing professional basketball has been a life-long goal. “I wake up and do something I love for a living,” he said. “It's an adventure. It's a great life, a great experience. It is a challenge being away from home.” He added he will evaluate his season to determine if he wants to continue playing professionally. If he can move up to a higher tier, he expects to spend more time in Europe.</p><p>Although he is aware it is a long shot, he still hasn't given up on improving his game and his statistics enough to get a shot at the National Basketball Association.</p><p>The transition not only to the professional ranks but to international rules hasn't been a problem for Hedgepeth. He averages 25 minutes of playing time a game for Aurteneche Maquinaria, which has split its 10 games and is tied for fifth in the 11-team division. Eight teams will advance to the playoffs at the end of the season, which is March 23. </p><p>He's the team's leading scorer at 11 points a game and also heads up the board effort with 7.2 grabs per game, including 2.5 offensive rebounds per outing. His accuracy from the field never has been challenged, and it isn't in the international arena. He's hit 42 of his 75 field goal attempts for 56 percent; the attempts represent a team high. He's made good on 23 of 34 free throws for 67.6 percent, both free-throw figures are team highs. </p><p>A big difference for Hedgepeth in the professional game has been the defensive rotation and help defense. “It's completely different,” he said. “They force the baseline defense.”</p><p>He's still learning the language when it comes to calling out terms, having to make a quick adjustment on learning Spanish as well as the culture.</p><p>Offense isn't much different. “They call out a different play every time,” Hedgepeth said. “There are a lot of picks and rolls. I've done a good job of reading the screen rolls.”</p><p>The team is located in north central Spain in Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city of about 235,000. </p><p>The 6-foot-9, 225-pound power forward-center scored 20 points and added nine rebounds in a successful debut Oct. 13, which Aurteneche won. He has had double-digit point totals in six games and twice has had a double-double with rebound highs of 13 and 12. He spends about 60 percent of his playing time as a post player, forcing him to adjust to the taller centers.</p><p>Hedgepeth lifts four days a week in addition to attending team practices four and five days a week. He is working on improving his Spanish (he had one year of the language in high school) and also works on his cooking skills. </p><p>The game is competitive within the framework of each team. The better a player's statistics, the bigger contract the next year, Hedgepeth explained, so each player must be aware of his own contributions as well as serving as a part of the team.</p><p>While Hedgepeth is the only player from the U.S. on the team, he does have an English-speaking teammate from the Bahamas.</p><p>Thus far, Hedgepeth has not played against any players with which he crossed paths on the college courts. He did play during an exhibition game against a Belmont teammate from his freshman year.</p>